Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-10-13


Find Watery Graves
The worst disaster that has happened In
the vicinity of the straits occurred near
Ma,kInaw City on the night Of Oct Sd,
In The sinking of the propeller California
of ST. Helena island and the drowning Of
nine persons.
The first intmation that tie people in
Mackinaw City had that n disaster had
occurred WAS when man was seen float
ing down the straits on some wreckage.
The steamer L. 5. Paxton, which was
crossing the straits at the time, rescued
him and took him into ST lenace. Men
Immediately began patrolling the beach,
and soon the wreckage began coming
ashore. 4 lot OF life preseryers bearing
the name California" were picked up.
1t was then supposed she had foundered
with all on board.
The California left Chicago, bound for
Montreal, Saturday night, oct. /, at 10
O'Clock. She had on cargo of 10000
bushels of corn and 700 barrels of pork.
Her crew consisted OF twenty-five persons,
and in addition she carried three passen-
gers. Everything went well until MOIslay
morning, the cd, when OFF the Beaver
islands, where she was struck by a gale
from the northwest. She wallowed badly
all day and at 3 p. m the sea had got so
large il was found impossible to steer her.
Three hundred barrels of pork We're thrown
overheard, but without seeming to relieve
the dolmed steamer. 1t was now deter
mined to beach her above 81. Helena is
land and the passengers aud crew were
provided with lie preservers and told to
make 7, sdy for the final struggle when
the steamer should strike.
At about Il o'clock, the wind having
increased to a hurricane and the waves
running mountains high, the gangways
were stove i'm, and the water getting into
the hold, the fires were put out and the
steamer left entirely at the mercy of the
elements. 1t was still thought that she
would drift ashore on st. Helena island,
which was near at hand, and anxiety was
felt 10y the passengers and crew for their
safety. Suddenly the steamer listed to
starbCard, and the captain ordered the
only boat launched which it was possible
10 lower.
AS soon as the boat was lowered the
cap ain went into the cabin to get the
passengers. When he returned to the
deck he found that the first mate and
several Of the crew had taken the boat
and left. The steamer now began to set
tie ia idly and in few minutes she
carecned over on to her sideboard side and
went down. Tho,c who remained on the
wreck found themselves struggling in the
wafer. Luckily for them, when the
steamer sunk she went down so sud-
denly that the top CT the cabin was torn
off, and iowaId, this the drowning people
fought their way among flying timbers
whiyh threatened every moment TO strike
them dead. The captain and engineer
succeeded III reaching the cabin and getting
out Loaf that was hanging TO the davits
on top Of the cabin. They Immediately
began rendering aid to those struggling in
the water. one lady passenger and the
second engineer and The stewardess were
all that could bc found. Their beat soon
drifted down along de of the propeller
A. Fol ON, which was anchored under the
81. Helena, aud they were taken on board.
Tho passenger were Mrs. Richard Con-
merton and son Of Sc Sixth street, Detroit,
ard young lady who got on ut Chicago,
going to Detroit. Mrs. Connerlon was
rescued Uy the captains boat Her
son and The young lady were both
drowned. The young lady name is not
known, but Il satchci found on the beach
contained diary in which was the name
OF Minnie Membery, o. Sackett IIarbor,
n, y. This Is supposed to belong to her.
1t is also reported that a trunk bearing
the ZANE name has washed ashore.
Mrs. CoInerton speak, in the highest
terms of the conduct Of the captain and
the rest of tie crew, and says they did
fhpir duty nOl,lv